My Travel Experience: New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is a great holiday destination - I can honestly say that this was the first thing that came to my mind when I first visited Sydney in 2011. However, I was not there to holiday, but to work on a project.

  
So many things that I saw in Sydney surprised me. Yes, it is in a different time zone than India, but the amazing things to discover made me forget my minor inconveniences like the fact that I initially had a hard time coming to terms with being a vegetarian.

But I must admit that the rest of the facilities were amazing. And the locals are incredibly helpful. I cannot say enough about this country, it has something for everyone: It has a long stretch of sandy beach, Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is more bustling with easy access to hotels, bars, shops and restaurants. On the other side is the Blue Mountains, which take you to a whole other world. My stay in Australia was the best experience in the world for me.

I stayed in this hotel for a few days, but soon I realized that my salary was enough to live in an apartment so I got a shared apartment.

Firstly, there is no dearth of Indians here and there are people who speak Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi, so I felt right at home. Also, the people of Australia are incredibly friendly and courteous, who go out of their way to help you and make you feel special. The level of service is excellent and everything is done with a smile – you can’t help but feel happy here in every way.

Then the weather here is completely opposite to ours back in India, I came here in the month of May which was the peak of winter. I was used to cold weather so I had no problem but the winds blow a lot here. However, the weather here is always pleasant, and it definitely gives a strange feeling when you go for a dip in the pool or the Pacific Ocean. I have visited not all but about 30 beaches in and around Sydney, and I have probably missed about 50 beaches.

Sydney Quay beaches are very high on my list and they are certainly great. Everywhere you look, you will find beautiful stretches of sand surrounded by very natural and charming tourists. However, it was Bondi Beach that really surprised me when it came to beaches. I was very awestruck as I arrived to find soft white sand stretching from one end to the other and the traffic of tourists and rabbits running around the best rocks. I didn't realize the time of sunset, and then the rush of public transport was a surprise for me for the first time.

I enjoyed walking there because the weather had cooled down a bit, and as it was the 26th of January which is Australia Day people came out to enjoy the place, although there is plenty of space for everyone so it is a perfect opportunity to people watch. You will find teenagers playing Frisbee, lounging in the shallow water where there is a separate swimming area, and many families enjoying each other's company.

I have seen the sunset at many beaches in my travel life and I always love the view, but some views are just heavenly and Bondi Beach was one of them. I think this is the perfect way to end your beach trip.

At this time of the year when winter is at its peak, the sunset happens late in the evening and by 7:45 pm it was almost daytime, and it was a wonderful sight to see the bright red sun slowly going into the sea. I wanted to have dinner at some bar/restaurant here but all the delicacies were beyond my reach so I returned to Harris Park and had dinner at Billu's restaurant which is very close to the station and my apartment.

I loved walking along The Nepean River in New South Wales

Its a great walk so rightly called The Great River Walk a favorite walking trail for walking lovers from all over the world. I lived close to the Nepean River in Penrith CBD, so I had access to this wonderful walking path within 15 minutes on foot.

I often walked in the parkland area at Penrith a C.B.D of Sydney, in Blue Mountains Region along the Nepean River. And if you are bird watcher, this walk is for you. It really is a bird-lovers paradise. You can watch several birds there while walking along this path. You can watch a different bird at every step.

Actually the entire distance of this walking path is 570 km but most people including me walked withing the CBD area of 6-7 km stretch in Sydney along the river Nepean. Here, I used to walk and hear lovely birds flying, singing or making sounds that always fascinated me.

Great egret

By the way, once I was there in October and I was asked by th locals to be careful of the magpie a common bird here which becomes dangerous during its incubating period. The male magpie keeps a strict vigil by zipping past of every passerby's ear, and in some cases he attacks too. You can bring your bike and have a fun ride.

I walked under the tall and thick trees and watched great egret swimming, and other small birds, wrens. Bell Miner. I kept walking and watching the lovely river and getting my quota of fresh air.

Sydney always amazed me

When I first arrived in Sydney I wanted to go to see different places on weekends and I had no car by then but I did not miss it because there was a choice to use different transport facilities for almost free. I would borrow a bike from my next door neighbor and would go to the ferry station. I parked my bike in the ferry station's bike parking area and took a ferry and went to different places. But at most time my first place to go to was Sydney Harbor area. I would then visit Sydney's various ferry routes, which cover almost the entire Sydney metro.

Of course, I used other methods of transportation like buses, trains, and city rail on that Sunday. Once I traveled about 250 km on a Sunday, and it all cost me just AU$ 2.60 only. Travel in Australia by public transport on Sundays is almost free for everyone. You pay just once and then use different transport services within the City for free.

I will mention another famous beach and a great tourist attraction of New South Wales, Jarvis Bay. This place is famous for its lovely beaches with sugar-white sand and wonderful food available at a great price. The waters of the Pacific here is crystal clear which attracts Dolphins especially the Bottlenose dolphins which are so friendly that love the company of humans.

Jarvis Bay is an experience, the natural passage of crystal clear waters, abundant sea life, and a variety of migrant birds, that leaves a lifelong experience on tourists. And yes, if you're lucky enough, the chances of watching the whales while passing the dramatic high cliffs in Jarvis Peninsula is another attraction. Yes, these whales come to rest and deliver the babies in Jarvis Bay.

The trip to Jarvis Bay is a once in a lifetime experience, just cruise along the unspoiled coastline of Beecroft Peninsula and explore through ancient sea caves from inside if lucky enough, or watch the beauty from outside. We missed the opportunity as the weather was unfavorable, but too windy and raining a bit.

But, half our disappointment of not getting the entry into the caves was gone when we found dolphins racing along with our boat and even giving us their beautiful smiles. I am not foody but I liked the setting of restaurants, bars, grills, and the variety of food at a great price. One could see the beaches and the ocean from every eating place.

Do you know the Tulip is one of the most loved flowers in the world? Yes, you can see a single flower show in Canberra.

I am in love with this flower, especially since I started visiting Floriade. I have not spelled Floriade wrong but it is one of the most visited flower exhibitions anywhere in the world with a different theme every year in September-October.

You will watch nothing but a single flower in a large area spread over hectares buzzing with various fun and joyful activities apart from the flowers. Floriade is an absolute paradise for photographers. I am sad that I have not visited the venue this year so far since it has already started on 11th September and will go on until 11th October, but I have my plans to go and add more Tulip flowers to my collection. I present here a couple of photos I took in September 2019. The life changed after 2019 because of pandemic, but now everything is back to normal.

As you will agree with me that you can identify Tulip flowers from a distance with their unique shapes that come in various sizes, colors. They come dull and bright but a Tulip remains unique, whatever the color or size. Tulips are my perfect love. And you know, even the meaning of Tulip is perfect love.

I come to the point, why I am talking about Tulip the symbol of love and pride. With all our sentiments and love associated with, we should literally shine and smell like tulips.

Do you know the Tulip is one of the most loved flowers in the world? I am in love with this flower, especially since I started visiting Floriade. I have not spelled Floriade wrong, but it is one of the most visited flower exhibitions anywhere in the world with a different theme every year in Canberra.

You will watch nothing but a single flower in a large area spread over hectares buzzing with various fun and joyful activities apart from the flowers. Floriade is an absolute paradise for photographers.